Celebrating Digital Christian Engagement

On Saturday, November 3rd Premier’s 9th Digital Awards Ceremony took place at The Brewery in London to celebrate and encourage excellence in Christian engagement online.

The Shortlist

78 Organisations and Individuals were short-listed for 17 different Awards, recognising creativity, passion and ministry. They represented an inspiring cross-section of churches, people and projects using the online space extend God’s Kingdom. On the night, a Winner and Runner-up were announced in each category.

Best Website 2018

Youth for Christ were proud to attend the evening. We were also honoured to win the 2018 Award for the Best Christian Organisation Website. It is a testament to the brilliant work of web developer Mark Woodger and the Youth for Christ Communications team, who created our new site as part of our national rebrand in January 2018. Digital and Creative Media Manager, Timmy Brennan and Mark collected the Award at the event (pictured).

“It was really encouraging to see so many other Christian Youth organisations and young people nominated for and winning awards,” according to Tim.

Most Inspiring Leadership Blog

Llandudno Youth for Christ Director, Tim Gough also picked up an Award. Tim’s website, Youth Work Hacks, won the Most Inspiring Leadership Blog for the third year in a row. The blog was also Runner-Up in the Multi-Author Blog of the Year category. “It’s always an immense privilege to be at the Premier Digital Awards and see how the gospel is spreading online through wacky and creative ways”, Tim says. “It was especially awesome this time to see so many youth workers, and particularly Youth for Christ family winning awards!”

“It was an honour to receive an award, and I’m really blown away that they once again chose a humble youth work blog over so many incredible entries. I love that this highlights the important work youth workers are doing throughout the country and it gave me an opportunity to remind a room of Christian leaders and influences to look after their youth workers.”

Runner-Up Young Blogger of the Year

But that wasn’t all. Former Year Out volunteer, Rebecca Rammell was named as the Runner-Up Young Blogger of the Year at the Awards. She spent last year with Youth for Christ on the Home Grown stream of The Year Out programme. Becca is now a Student Youth Worker at Worcester Baptist Chruch. She is also studying Youth, Community and Theology at Nottingham St John’s College.

When she’s not working or studying, you’ll probably find her writing on her blog. “I write about life lessons, reflections on the world I see and Bible studies, with the odd travel photo here and there,” Becca says. “I write because I find it’s a healthy way to express myself, it gives me a platform to share my faith and to be creative too!”

A Night to Remember

At the end of a fantastic night, Tim Gough summed up the significance of the 2018 Premier Digital Awards. “There were great prizes, amazing dishes, fancy outfits and wonderful people. But what was most clear, was a collective passion for Jesus and how we can bring that alive online. It was great to be part of it again!”